Topographic map - work in progress

[dealguy11]

We're making this map of Monroe County, PA (plus about 2 miles all around) for a local museum. It's being carved in 2" thick, 40 lb. modeling foam, which is almost as dense as oak. The slab weighs about 200 lbs. The model came from a local high-school student who processed the satellite data himself (we didn't use BigTopo for this). There is about 1.1" of relief in the map, with map features doubled in height to make the relief more apparent. The finished map will be about 4' x 5'. When it's done, a local college art class will paint it. Finally, we're making an oak display table to display it.

We're using a 3/16" tapered ballnose for carving. In theory, the machine is running at 1200 ipm, but in reality with all the up and down movement it might be actually achieving 200 ipm. This is after 7 hours of cutting.

I was hoping it would finish today, but it looks like I'm going to have to shut it down later this evening and let it finish tomorrow (I don't run the machine unattended, ever). Will hopefully post the finished model then.

I've included a rendering from the toolpath preview. I find this model to be really fascinating. You can clearly see the Delaware Water Gap at the bottom. The ridge at the bottom is Kittatinny Mountain, which goes on for over 100 miles to the west and south. The Appalachian Trail follows its summit. Camelback mountain is in the middle. The cuttings and build-ups for I-80 can be seen going across the middle. The eroded area is what is generally referred to as the Pocono Mountains, but you can see in this model that they are really just big washouts from the plateau to the north and west. In the center of the map you can see where the glaciers scarred the landscape during an ice age. I'm not making much money on this project, but I'm having a lot of fun.

[TReischl]

Interesting project!

Thanks for posting. A little out of the ordinary. . . .

[mtylerfl]

That’s an amazing project, Steve! I’m looking forward to seeing more photos of this! Thanks for posting!

[scottp55]

It's coming along GREAT Steve!!
Top of the Water Gap was the destination for the first day of many of my meanderings....SO NICE to wake up there and drive the rest of the Gap at sunrise!
LOVE Topos!
Congrats!
scott

[dealguy11]

About 12 hours in. Should be done today (said while knocking really hard on wood).

[dealguy11]

Meant to post this last night. The finished map. Now off to the college for painting.

[mtylerfl]

Yeah!! Looks great!

I hope someone will take progress photos of the painting process, too!

[scottp55]

BIG job Steve, and looks VERY well done!!!
My congrats to you!!
scott

[dealguy11]

Here's a few more pictures of it out of the slab. I really couldn't be happier with the quality of how it cut. Only issue is a small witness line where I had to stop cutting overnight, but it's not enough that we'll bother sanding it.

This stuff is "just" foam, but the finished model still weighs over 100 lbs.

[mtylerfl]

Pure awesomeness!!

[Bobtail Farm]

That’s an amazing project, Steve! I’m looking forward to seeing more photos of this! Thanks for posting!

+1

[scottp55]

OK....I'm Impressed!!

[Creation in Wood]

Thanks for sharing Steve

[AJF]

Very nice. I really enjoy making topographic maps myself. I do find that I have probably just as much fum finding new methods of developing the 3d models from the imagery that is available from a variety of agencies. Just wish the level of resolution for the imagery was higher for the Arctic and Antarctic regions.